EDUCATION / SMART RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS : Where Homework and the Internet Meet: LAUNCH POINT : Western Classical Composers

Who would think that a writer of symphonies, sonatas and operas could be inspired to write a piece at a bowling alley? Or that a composer could continue to write sensational music he couldn’t hear? Our world has been enriched by the music of such people as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who wrote music wherever he went, and by Ludwig van Beethoven, who continued to write symphonies even after he went deaf. Discover the lives and music of composers whose works have been enjoyed for centuries through the direct links on the Times Launch Point Web site, https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/

Level 1

The Piano Education Page--Just For Kids: What would it be like to talk with such composers as Schubert, Haydn, Chopin and Liszt? Find out as two Austrian piano students travel back in time and ask great composers questions over walks in the park and meetings for lunch.

https://www.unm.edu/~loritaf/pnokids.html

Mozart’s Magical Musical Life: When Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was growing up, he enjoyed improvisation contests in which musicians would invent as many variations on a tune as they could. Listen to clips, from the minuet Mozart composed when he was 5 years old to excerpts from his later masterpieces in this fun, illustrated story of the great composer.

https://www.stringsinthemountains.org/m2m/1once.htm

The Music Room: From medieval music to the modern era, learn about periods of music through simple descriptions of what to listen for and by viewing artwork from that time. Find out how music became standardized under the influence of Pope Gregory I and listen to excerpts from different musical periods.

https://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano /Mike/capmusic/home%20page/themusic.htm

Level 2

Bach to the Future: Improve your musical history smarts while you work to solve the mystery of a missing Stradivarius violin. Take a trip in the Chronosurfer 2000 and discover various styles of music through this fun, interactive game in which you eventually duel the Quizbot.

https://library.advanced.org/12225/

Young Composers: Can you tell the difference between a sonata by Beethoven, a lullaby by Brahms and a waltz by Strauss? Try a game where you match the music with its writer, and listen to sound clips of new music written by today’s young classical composers.

https://www.youngcomposers.com/

Island of Freedom--Composers: Igor Stravinsky collaborated with such artists as Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, and his controversial work “The Rite of Spring” caused a riot at its world premiere in 1913. Listen to clips of famous works and read about the lives of 17 composers.

https://www.island-of-freedom.com/COMPS.HTM

Level 3

Early Women Composer Chronology: From Gregorian chants to songs and sonatas, women have been composing music since ancient times. Get acquainted with musical works from such varied figures as Mary Queen of Scots, Hildegard of Bingen and a composer who went by the name of Mrs. Philharmonica because 18th century Englishwomen were not supposed to write music.

https://150.252.8.92/www/iawm/pages/EMWomen.html

Classical Composers Archive: Composer Richard Wagner said, “Where the speech of man stops short, then the art of music begins.” Explore the lives and music of composers from more than 27 countries.

https://spight.physics.unlv.edu/archive_pop.html

Beethoven: The Magnificent Master: Beethoven continued to write music even after he lost his hearing. Get an in-depth look at this composer through photos, letters, a detailed biography, music excerpts and commentaries on his works.

https://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/3732/

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Joy Senf, Janice Dove, Sunho Lee and Anna Manring.

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

What musical work did Mozart compose while bowling with friends?

CLUE: See The Piano Education Page: Just For Kids

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point now covers more than 100 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: Bernoulli’s Principle of “lift” explains why tennis balls take crazy hops and how airplanes stay aloft.